15-Year-Old Girl Charged As An Adult For Her Stepmother’s Murder

A 15-year-old Kentucky girl will be tried as an adult after a grand jury indicted her for the murder of her stepmother. Jenna Oakley has been charged with complicity to murder in the death of Rhonda Oakley, 52, who was married to the girl’s father, Phillip. She is also charged with theft by taking over $10,000, after she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Nigh, 21, of Arlington, Indiana, stole Rhonda’s car and fled to New Mexico, where they were apprehended two days later.

Rhonda Oakley’s slain body was discovered at home by her 13-year-old stepson, presumably Jenna’s brother, on September 1. Police have yet to release the details of Rhonda’s murder, but the indictments seem to suggest Jenna and her boyfriend acted in concert to cause the woman’s death. The couple then fled town in Rhonda’s white Honda Civic. Jenna’s cellphone was later pinged in New Mexico, where authorities arrested them in the parking lot of a Motel 6.

Nigh so far has only been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. However, he was hospitalized while awaiting extradition after allegedly attempting suicide. It is assumed more charges are to be filed against him, but there are unsubstantiated reports that he has died from his injuries. If convicted, Jenna would not face the death penalty on account of her age when the crimes were committed. She is currently being held without bail at a juvenile detention center.

“I can tell you I hate my daughter,” Phillip Oakley told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “I do not care about my daughter. I’m worried about the people that I need to protect, and that’s not one of them.”